I swept the “lanai” today…well we call it our back porch, though by my native New England roots I might not call it a porch, but more of a covered patio. And I didn’t actually sweep it. I hit it with the leaf blower.

Before that, I sorted out the shed, made more room and swept it. I organized tools and cleaned off the patio table which gets cluttered with all the day’s and week’s work. Ahh, it felt good!

I gathered up broken plant pots and potted a mint plant that we had pulled up to put in raised beds. Collecting the broken pot shards made me think of this week’s theme of forgiveness, and our diet of no negative thoughts.

I keep restarting my diet. Our negative thoughts are so often a result of resentment and lack of forgiveness – either towards others, or towards ourselves. I thought about the human tendency to save little broken bits and repurpose them.

It only makes sense, for what we experience within, manifest outside us and we are all made of broken bits in need of repurposing. We are so often collecting up the shards of past relationships, regrets and self-pity.

As I went along cleaning I quickly moved some rocks, shells and little treasures. A sand dollar dropped and broke. I was instantly remorseful – I should have been more careful!

Then I looked and saw the feathery wings of the dove-shaped bits that had been hiding within laying next to the broken pieces. The afternoon light shone on them and my regret turned to awe and a deep smile blossomed within.

We are all in need of forgiveness, and so we must give it, freely – without expectation of reciprocity. The patio is now swept. I put the sand dollar and doves on the table as a reminder of the hidden treasure of forgiveness. I begin my diet again.